News

The policies the parties don't want you to notice this election

The policies the parties don't want you to notice this election

The little secrets that lurk behind the big ideas this election.

Tories

Big idea: A long-term economic plan, and being allowed to finish it.

Little secret: Swingeing welfare cuts to reduce the deficit, including disability allowances and money paid to carers.

Labour

Big idea: Living standards have been squeezed, only Labour can save the NHS from privatisation.

Little secret: A Labour government would still implement deep cuts to public spending.

Lib Dems

Big idea: The middle ground between Tory cuts and Labour spending.

Little secret: A looming, brutal leadership battle in the event of Nick Clegg's resignation.

Ukip

Big idea: An in-out referendum on EU membership, tough curbs on immigration.

Little secret: Public backing from Britain First, the English Defence League and former leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin.

Green Party

Big idea: The phasing out of fossil fuels, the scrapping of tuition fees.

Little secret: That economic growth can be dangerous for Britain is a difficult sell on the doorstep.

SNP

Big idea: Full fiscal autonomy for Scotland, a new home for Trident.

Little secret: "Devolution max" could result in huge tax rises for Scots.

Plaid Cymru

Big idea: Wales to be given the same per capita public funding as Scotland (an extra £1.2billion per year).

Little secret: Ukip could overwhelm the Party of Wales at the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016.

(Main picture courtesy of Seth Watkins)

More: [We asked 10 polling companies to predict the election result]1

More: [Rainbow coalition? It's our super-Venn diagram for all the realistic election outcomes]2

The Conversation (0)
x